What Is the Certified Ethical Hacker Exam?

The certified ethical hacker exam is a highly technical examination used to assess an individual’s skill and competency in computer hacking. The actual examination consists of more than 100 questions and is typically administered after a person has satisfactorily completed formal training in an ethical hacking course. Some people do, however, take the certified ethical hacker exam without having attended formal training, but these individuals must be able to prove adequate levels of self-training before being allowed to do so. Continuing education courses are also periodically required to maintain certification once it has been earned by successfully passing the initial examination.

Those who pass the certified ethical hacker exam generally do so in order to qualify to work for corporations and government agencies. Also known as white hat hackers, such are employed in capacities intended to help safeguard organizations against other computer hackers with harmful or criminal intentions. Cyber security jobs like these are considered a very valuable part of a company’s infrastructure.

In some instances, the certified ethical hacker exam may be taken online. There are also multiple centers located around the world where the test is administered at scheduled dates and times. Successfully passing such technically oriented testing indicates that a certified ethical hacker (CEH), also known as a penetration tester, is adept in identifying vulnerabilities and compromises in various computer security systems.

Those who have previously taken and passed the examination report that a significant number of the test’s questions are about LINUX systems, as well as specific hacking tools and Microsoft operating systems. Several books and special software programs offering exam preparation have also been published for those interested in taking the exam. Additionally, some of the certified ethical hacker exam subject matters can be found online. Even with formal training, many find supplemental education useful.

Other specific areas of security concerns covered in the certified ethical hacker exam include questions about penetration testing, the ability to detect computer viruses and worms, and network scanning. A person’s knowledge and ability in session hijacking, denial of service attacks, cryptography and webserver hacking is also measured by the exam’s questions. Overall, the test takes an average of four hours to complete and candidates must pass with a score of 70 percent or higher to qualify for certification. Due to the rigorous intensity of the certified ethical hacker exam, most people opt for formal training before attempting to pass it.